2of4Golden State Warriors' assistant coach Jarron Collins and Stephen Curry during 121-85 win over New York Knicks in NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, March 16, 2016.Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

3of4Golden State Warriors' assistant coach Jarron Collins before Warriors play New York Knicks in NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, March 16, 2016.Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

4of4Warriors assistant coach Jarron Collins calls out a defensive alignment in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. The Thunder defeated the Warriors 118-94, to take a 3 games to 1 lead.Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

On Saturday afternoon at Oracle Arena, while colleagues and players discussed the NBA Finals’ upcoming Game 7 with reporters, Jarron Collins reviewed notes on his MacBook Pro.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not in a quotable mode right now,” the Warriors’ assistant coach said before relenting to an interview request. “I’m waiting to show Festus (Ezeli) tape as soon as he gets done lollygagging.”

This diligent approach has helped Collins emerge as one of the NBA’s most promising assistants. Now, with the Lakers introducing Luke Walton as their head coach Tuesday, folks at Oracle wonder whether Collins, 37, will be the next Golden State assistant to lead a team.

Though he has yet to hit the interview circuit, the former journeyman center fulfills the criteria front offices eye in a head coach: an ability to relate to players, high basketball IQ, experience under respected mentors and, of course, a dogged desire to improve. Those close to Collins figure it won’t be long before he is asked to replicate the Warriors’ success for another franchise.

“He’s definitely head-coaching material for this league,” said Golden State assistant Ron Adams, whose assistant-coaching career has spanned seven NBA teams in 21 years (including two stints with the Bulls). “He’s a very bright guy who uses his smarts well. But at the same time, he’s a very earthy guy who has played the game and understands young people.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (center) holds the the Red Auerbach Trophy as he takes a photo with Luke Walton (left) , Warriors assistant coach, and Jarron Collins, Warriors assistant coach, during the NBA Coach of the Year press conference on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Oakland, California.

Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

To play 10 NBA seasons, Collins relied on his intellect as much as any low-post move. He made timely screens and found shooters open along the perimeter. As minutes dwindled during the latter half of his career, Collins was the consummate elder statesman. He educated younger teammates on the rigors of the NBA. When he noticed a hole in the opponent’s defense, Collins pointed it out to the coaching staff.

After retiring in 2011 with career averages of 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds, Collins spent two years scouting for the Clippers. He was a player development coach for the Warriors in 2014-15 before Steve Kerr promoted him last July to full-time assistant. It was as the Suns’ general manager half a decade earlier that Kerr had recognized in Collins, then a seldom-used big man, the intangibles to coach.

Collins works closely with Golden State’s frontcourt. When dictating a note doesn’t suffice, he plants his 6-foot-11, 248-pound frame in the key and bangs with the likes of Ezeli or Andrew Bogut.

“I get my cardio burn for the day,” said Collins, who will coach the Warriors’ summer-league team next month in Las Vegas.

Coaches credit Collins for Ezeli’s development from raw rookie to key rotation player. Golden State’s much-vaunted “small lineup” has thrived, in part, because Collins helped Draymond Green (6-7) learn how to play much bigger than his measurements.

“Jarron has been a good voice for us, especially the big men,” Ezeli said. “He just understands the game. We’re coming to him at halftime or timeouts and saying, ‘What do you see out there?’ He’s telling us how to move or manipulate our positions. He’s been a great asset.”

A Stanford grad, Collins has a knack for offensive schemes and game plans. Over the Warriors’ first 43 regular-season games, when Kerr was out dealing with complications from back surgery, Walton, then the interim head coach, often consulted Collins about substitution patterns and play calls. It was Golden State’s 39-4 record during that stretch that helped Walton, 36, land an opportunity with the Lakers.

Soon enough, Collins should have plenty of head-coaching chances. Outside of San Antonio, where Gregg Popovich has manned the sideline since 1996, head coaching in the NBA is a volatile profession. Only five current coaches have held their positions longer than three seasons. In the past year alone, 13 coaches have been fired.

“We’re so blessed to have a coaching staff with all of the guys we have here, but I know it’s going to be hard to keep everybody,” Ezeli said. “Eventually, Jarron’s going to get his opportunity, and I see him doing a great job.”

Connor Letourneau moved to the Golden State Warriors beat in September 2016 after a year covering Cal. Previously, he spent two years covering the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian. Letourneau is a University of Maryland alum who has interned for The Baltimore Sun and blogged for The New York Times. A Portland, Ore., native, he is interested in telling the stories that extend beyond the field or court.